Projector for color motion pictures



Aug. 4, 1936. I v Q Q GlLMORE 2,050,224

PROJECTOR FOR COLOR MOTION PICTURES Filed Sept. 5, 1933 V 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR.

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ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1936. o. c. GILMORE PROJECTOR FOR COLOR MOTION PICTURES 5 Sheets SheetZ Filed se tfs, 1933 INVENTOR BY .Oito- 6. Gilmorq A TTORNIEY Aug. 4, 1936.

O. C. GILMORE PROJECTOR FOR COLOR MOTION PICTURES Filed Sept. 5, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 o. c. GILMORE PROJECTOR FOR COLOR MQTION PICTURES Filed Sept. 5, 19:53 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 4, 1936.

2 A TTORNE Y Au 4, 1936. o. c. GILMORE PROJECTOR FOR COLOR MOTION PICTURES Filed Sept. 5, 1933 5 Sheeis-Sheet 5 I 11v VENTORH Otto U.Gilmore BY 6 ATTORNEY) Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE 2,050,224 PROJECTOR FOR COLOR MOTION PICTURES Otto C. Gilmore, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cosmocolor Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 5, 1933, Serial No. 688,150

4 Claims. (Cl. 8816.4)

- This invention 'relates to projection devices of the type adapted to project pictures in color upon a suitable screen by the additive method.

The invention has for an object the provision of a suitable device so constructed and arranged as to render the same adaptable to any standard type of motion picture projection machine without necessitating change ipthe projection machine construction.

With respect to the above mentioned object, the average projection machine includes a projector head in addition to other adjuncts, such as the magazines, lamp house, sound equipment, and the like, and within the projector head is received the objective lens. is carried upon a sliding block adapted to be fitted to a block in the projector head. Thus, it is possible to change the objective lenses, if desired. With my invention, the character of the projector is readily changed from one adapted to project a black and white picture to that adapted to project pictures in color by the additive method by merely releasing the standard lens from the block and replacing the lens with my attachment. This only requires a short duration of time and therefore makes the projection machine adaptable for two purposes, to-'wit, black and white or color.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device suitably constructed to project pictures in color in such a manner that there is a minimum loss of light. When it is realized that the average projector is very wasteful of light, itbecomes increasingly'necessary when a picture is to be projected in color by the additive,

method that the device for permitting projection in color should be highly emcient; other-' wise, the light loss is so'great as to render color projection commercially unfeasible. It can easily be shown that the loss of light in passage through the condenser runs as high as 33% where-a double lens is used. About 40% of the circular beam is cut oif by the aperture rearward of the film with the result that only 40% of the original light reaches the film. The loss of light in passage through the film, of course, varies, and'the density and photometric measurements have shown that as high as 25% of the light may be lost in transmission through the film. The objective usually includes two uncemented lenses, which involve a light loss of 25% or 30% and one cement doublet involving a further light drop to 22%. If the ordinary type of flicker shutter is utilized, the loss of light may amount to as much as 50%, with the result that if the light incident upon the first condenser lens is 12,000 lumens, only 11% passes the shutter; that is, 1300 lumens. Hence, if the light loss in passage through the atmosphere is included and thepicture is to be projected upon a screen hav- This objective lens tion must of necessity have the light appreciably reduced and then split as to direction into two paths, for passage through filters, that unless the device is accurately designed, it would be impossible to project upon a screen a picture in colors and still have the picture correct as to color rendering or the action distinct in outline.

With the present invention, I have so balanced and arranged the various elements thereof as to eifect a, saving in light, to the end that a picture may be projected upon a screen which will 20 have a wealth of detail and recreate in color the original photographed object field.

Another object is to provide a construction whereby various optical elements adapted to split a beam of light may be accurately adjusted, to the end that the divided light pencils are parallel.

Another object is the provision of a device for the projection of pictures in color by the additive method so formed and constructed that the projected colored images may be accuratelyoverlapped.

Another object is the provision of a device adapted to permit projection of pictures in color by the additive method in which there is no stopping down eiIect or side cutting of the light rays. a

A further object of the invention consists in the utilization of prism elements so constructed as to permit passage of light therethrough, the minimum amount of glass being utilized.

With respect to the last mentioned'object, it

' may be mentioned that the prism elements are adapted to give an image turning of Ordinarily, a prism adapted to accomplish this result. would be'of large size, resulting in great light loss, and further impractical because such a device would be so large as to prevent its placement within the ordinary type of projector head. I have, however, provided prism sets so constructed that a minimum amount of glass is utilized to turn the light pencil 90.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth as the invention is described in detail, among which objects are simplicity and ruggedness of construction, and adaptability to various uses.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, and

relative arrangement of parts, members, and 0 the showing of the invention associated with a projection machine,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of certain of the optical elements of the invention, the direction of the path of light therethrough being indicated.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view. showing the invention and general path of light through a film, the invention, and resultant projected picture upon a screen,

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the invention,

Figure 7 is a plan view showing certain of the optical elements within a casing, the cover being removed,

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8--8 of Figure 6,

Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line of Figure 7,

Figure 10 is a plan view of the base of the casing adapted to house the optical elements shown in Figure '7,

Figure 11 is illustrative of the passage of a light pencil through optical elements,

Figure 12 is illustrative of the passage of a light pencil through a lens when the lens axis is in one position, and-- Figure 13 illustrates position relative to that shown by Figure 12.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, I shall first describe the optical system shown in Figures 4 and 5, after which I will describe the means for incorporating said optical system in a projection machine.

In Figure 5', I have shown at I a reflector and forward of the reflector is the usual are 2. The

point source of light from the arc would, of course, be passed through a condenser indicated by dotted lines at 3. This light is then passed through film 4 upon which film are parallel and aligned image areas 5 land 6. As indicated by the arrows 1 and 8, these image areas are in edge to edge relationship and geometrically identical, it being observed that the heads of the arrows indicate the top portions of the image areas in each instance. With respect to this particular character of film, and its method of production, attention is directed to my co-pending application for camera, filed in the United States Patent Office on September 5, 1933, Serial No.-688,149. 9-is an aperture plate, the aperture of which is adapted to register with the boundaries of the image areas, this aperture plate forming a part of the general projection machine construction, and particularly that portion which includes the film trap, including the shoes, gate, tension springs, and

the like. As is customary, l0 indicates the emulsion or dull side of the film. The opposite side of the film, or the celluloid or bright side, at H has forward thereof a light shield i2. This light shield is substantially at right angles to the plane of the film face and divides the two image areas 5 and 8. It will be noted with respect to the image areasthat I have outlined the image areas for the sake of clarity with transverse and the direction of the light pencil when the lens axis is moved to a second the shield i2. So far, it will be seen that when the filmand both image areas are illuminated that there are two distinct light pencils separated by the light shields l2 and i5. Furthermore, it will be observed that this construction is such as to prevent spread, relative to the axis, of light from each image area. Iprovide prism sets i6 and H which are substantially identical in construction, for which reason the set 16 will bedescribed.

The prism set' in the present instance includes prisms i8, i9 and 20. Each prism is of the right-. angled isosceles triangular type, and the prisms are adapted to be cemented together in any suitable manner, such as through the use of balsam,

to the end that there is no air gap therebetween.

fact that the prism is truncated at 24 to provide a trimcated face at right angles to the plane of the face 2|. The face 2| constitutes the plane incident beam receiving face for the said prism; the face 22, the plane emergent beam face; and the oblique face 23, normally the hypotenuse of the triangular prism, the reflecting face. The second prism l9 has an oblique face 25 extending between two plane faces 26 and 21, the faces 26 and 21 being at right angles. 26 and 21 consti tute the beamreceiving and beam emergent faces. respectively, and 25 the reflecting face. The prism 20 is provided with faces 28 and 29 in right angular relationship and an oblique face 30. its before, 28 and 29 constitute the beam receiving and beam emergent faces, and 30 the reflecting face. As a matter of fact, when the several prisms are joined together, for instance, the face 22 of prism I8 secured to face 26 of prism l9, and face 21 of prism l9 secured toface 2d of prism 30 through the used Canadian balsam, the prism becomes as a single piece of glass without reference to beam receiving and beam emergent faces, save and except for the faces 2| of prism Hand 29 of prism 2||.- It will be observed that when the several prisms are cemented together that the light pencil is turned 90 in the passage through the said set from incident beam receiving face to emergent beam face. For instance, the image as to position, and as illustrated at 3|, is turned to theposition illustrated in dotted lines at 32. This is true for the reason that when the light pencil strikes the incident.

beam receiving face 2| of prism l8, it is reflected by face 23 at right angles and strikes the reflecting face 25 of prism i9. It will be observed that this right angular reflection turns the image so that it lies'in the same plane as the image shown at 3|. The light pencil bearing an image is then reflected by the face 25 onto the reflecting face 30,

prism depends from the prism i9.

the light receiving faces of the different prisms,

there is a difference in the face areas. By way of example, the emergent face 22 of the prism'l 8 is of lesser area than the beam receiving face 26 of prism l 9 and the beam receiving face of prism 20 is of greater area than the beam emergent face of prism l9. Hence, there is a progressive increase in size of the faces from the plane incident receiving face 2! of prism it to the plane emergent beam face 29 of prism 20. This construction is one of the features of the present invention and the relative sizes of the prisms are so selected that the cone of light, as it increases in size, is not side out or stopped down in its passage through the prism set. The principle is illustrated in Figure 11, wherein I have illustrated the three prisms i5, i9 and 2H, constituting mere rectangular blocks, the light pencil being designated as 33, and it will be seen that the cone of rays gradually increases as to diameter in passage through the prism, and that the construction is such that there is no side cutting of the light rays.

As stated, the prism set M is a duplicate of the prism set it and if the prism set it were revolved 180 from the position shown in Figure 5, the exact position of the prism set ll would result. 'In other words, the truncated faces of the prisms it for both sets would be in juxtaposition and abutting. The oblique faces 25 of the prisms l9 for both sets would-be substantially parallel, and whereas the prism 25 is above or supported upon the prism l 9 for prism set it, for prism set ll the However, the oblique faces 30 are parallel as are likewise the plane emergent beam faces.

There are two objective lens sets 34! and 35. The objective lens set 341 has the objective axis thereof lying in the axis of the light pencil passed through the prism set 86 and the objectivelens set 35 has the lens axis thereof lying in the axis of the light pencil emerging from the prism set ll. However, in order to cause a complete overlap of the light pencils passed through both objective lens sets, both objective lens sets may be shifted as to position, as will be hereinafter detailed. However, for the present, it may be remarked that when both image bearing light pencils are finally projected upon the screen 35, both image bearing light pencils overlap in perfect registry, as illustrated at H. The light pencils, after passing through the objectives, pass through color filters Hi5 and M6.

Figure 6 illustrates, in rear elevation, the prism casing adapted to hold the prism sets 55 and ill and likewise shows the objective lenses 36 and 55 forward of the prism casing. The general view of the construction is further detailed in Figures 1 and 2, wherein it will be seen that I have provided a casting designated generally as 38 (see also Figure 3) this casting including two lens carrier members 39 and 40 in right angular relationship, and an offset bracket M integral-with the lens carrier members. This bracket ll includes a part 42 which may be termed the mounting plate for the casting, and which is substantially parallel to the lens carrier member 40. This bracket has an interconnecting piece 43 between the lens carrier members and the mounting plate 42. Both lens carrier members 39' and 80 are provided with transverse dove-tailed slots M and 45, respectively (see Figures 1 and 2).

The objectives in each instance are contained within suitable focusing mounts or sleeves. This construction is not detailed for the reason that it is common practice to provide some focusing arrangement for the lenses. provide for each lens mount a jacket or housing 46 and M, respectively. Each jacket is adapted to enclose a focusing lens mount, being secured within said jacket by means of screws or the like 48, with both said jackets provided with a spiral slot 49 through which a focusing lever 50 secured to the lens mount, is passed. Thus, movement of the focusing lever within the slot will cause approach or separation of a component of the objective lens. Both said jackets are provided with carrier blocks 55 provided with dove-tailed tongues 52. Both dove-tailed slots M and in the lens carrier members 39 and have greater transverse dimensions than the transverse dimension of the dove-tailed tongues 52, and to prevent In this connection, I I

any side play when the tongues are within said dove-tailed slots, strip type compression springs 53 are interposed between a wall bounding the dove-tailed slot and a. side wall of the dove-tailed tongue, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. As previously stated, this same structure obtains for the jacket #81. Both dove-tailed tongues of the jackets 45 and t? are provided with depending lugs 56 and 55, respectively, (see Figures 2 and 3). Secured to the under side of both of the lens carrier members 59 and t0 and in alignment with the lugs 56 and 55 are enlargements 56 and 5?,

each provided with a screw-threaded bore. Screws 58 and 59 are received within the screwthreaded bores in the members 55 and 5?, and

both screws are secured to suitable heads 60 and ill, carried by the lugs 56 and 55. It is, therefore, evident that a turning of the heads in one of two directions will cause movement of the lens jacket to the right or left, in one instance, to-wit, for

the objective 5 3, and up and down or vertically for the objective 35, see the arrows, Figure 3, at 52 and 53.

The projector head is provided with a block 55 having a dove-tailed slot 65. Ordinarily, the objective is provided with a slide block formed with a dove-tailed tongue, and inthe present instance, I do not change this structure other than to provide an intermediate block provided on one face with a dove-tailed slot 5i, and on the opposite face with a dove-tailed tongue 68. The dove-tailed tongue 58 of the block is received within the dove-tailed groove 55 of the block 65, and a compression spring 69 is within the dovetailed slot and bears against the dove-tailed tongue 68 to take up side play. The mounting plate 32 has secured thereto a dove-tailed tongue -in the dove-tailed slot 67 and through the medium of the lock screwjl2, it is possible to move the tongue into clamping engagement with the side walls bounding the dove-tailed slot 61, and thereby lock the mounting plate 42 against movement relative to the intermediate block 66. Thewall 13 forming one wall of the projection head is formed with a longitudinal slot 14, and movable within this slot is a screw 15, which screw is received within a screw-threaded opening 16 of the intermediate block 66. The outer face of the wall 73 is provided with an elongated channel ll and received within said channel and surrounding the shank of the screw 15, is a slide 18. Thus, when the screw is tightened, a clamping relationship exists between the slide, bearing against'the bottom wall bounding the channel, and the intermediate block 68, the intermediate block having the bottom face 19 of the dove-tailed tongue 88 pressed against the face 89 bounding the dove-tailed slot 65. The casing 38 is of extended length and in addition to-spacing apart the said objective lenses, carries a prism box or casing 8|.

The prism box or casing is detailed as to con struction in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, wherein it will be observed that from a configuration standpoint, it is in the form of a truncated hollow parallelepiped, and wherein 82 is the base and 83 the side walls of the casing. It will be observed that the portions 84 and 85 of the side walls are substantially parallel, as are likewise portions 86 and 81, 88 and 89, the walls 88 and 89 forming the truncation. The form of the casing is arbitrary but lends itself to housing the prism sets I6 and H in a compact manner. It will be noted that the base 82 which constitutes the front wall when viewing the casing relative to the objectives, is provided with two spaced apart and substantially parallel apertures 99 and 9 I It is intended that he faces 29 of the prisms 29 of both prism sets I6 and Il should be adjacent these apertures. For instance, the face 29 of the prism set I8 would appear at the aperture 99 and the same face of the prism set I'i at the aperture 9|. The oblique faces 25 of the prisms I9 bear against the inner surfaces of the side wall and particularly the portions 84 and 85, as best illustrated in Figure 7, and the truncated edges of the prisms I8 are in abutting relationship, as shown in Figure 8, at 92. The casing is provided with a cover 93 conforming in outline to the configuration of the side wall 83, and the casing side wall is provided with screw-threaded bores 94, and the said cover is provided with openings adapted to align with the screw-threaded bores aforesaid whereby suitable securing means, such as screws 95, may fasten the cover 93 to the casing side wall. This cover is provided with an aperture 96, and reference to Figures 6 and 10 will show that this aperture is substantially midway between the apertures 99 and 9i. The aperture 96 is in alignment with the faces 2I of the prisms I8 of the prism sets I6 and Ill.

Dividing the aperture 96 into two portions and in the plane of the abutting truncated faces 24. of the prisms I8 of the prism sets I6 and I1,

- is the light blind or shield I5; The base of the I said prism casing ispro'vided with one or more perforated ears or lugs 91 and 98, and the casting 38 is provided with screw-threaded bores whereby suitable securing means passed through the openings of said ears may engage said screwthreaded bores of the casting, as illustrated in Figure 6, at 99 and I99, to secure said casing to the casting and in a defined relationship to the axes of the objectives.

A feature of the present invention resides in the means whereby the plane emergent beam faces, together with the incident beam receiving faces of bothprism sets considered as entireties may be brought into substantial parallelism at any time desired. This means is best illustrated in rigsres '7, 8 and 9. Referring to these figures, it will be observed that the arrangement of the prism sets is such that when they are confined 'within the prism casing, there is a space between the base and the inner side walls IM and I92 of the prisms 29 and likewise there is a space included between the said base of the casing and the oblique faces 23 of the prisms I8. For convenience, this space will be designated as I93 (see Figure 8). Secured to the base by means of screws or the like I94, and within the space I93,

is an elongated block I95 having an oblique face- 5 I96 corresponding to the angularity of the 0blique face 23 of the prism I8 of the prism set It, and said block is provided with end portions IM and I98 adapted to overlap sides I99 and H9 of the said prism, and to securely hold the prism 10 to the block. The prism I8 of the prism set I6 is held by a block iII. This block has an oblique face II,2 corresponding to the angular'ity of the oblique face of the said prism and provided with end portions- H3 and II4 adapted to overlap l5 sides H5 and N6 of the prism for the purpose of holding said prism to said block. The block is provided with a furcated extension IiI. Within the space I93 and secured to the base by suitable screws, or'the like, M8, is a standard II9. 29 A pivot pin I29 is interposed between the standard and the block III substantially intermediate the length of said block. The base of the casing is provided with a screw-threaded opening HI and an adjusting screw I22 is threaded thereto, 25 the said adjusting screw having a reduced diameter shank I23 and a head I24. The shank I23 is received between the furcations N1, the head I24 overlying said furcations, as best illustrated in Figure 7. The outer end of the screw 39 I22 is formed with a kerf I25. Thus, a turnin of the screw I22 through the medium of any suitable implement will rock the prism block III to in turn rock the entire prism set I9, and in this manner it is possible to adjustthe two prism 35 sets in such a manner that the emergent faces,, to-wit, the faces 29, are in substantial parallelism. There are several methods whereby this parallelism may be gauged, one.being to pass the light pencil through the prisms and observing the 40 relative position for the light pencil upon a screen. Itis also possible to take one prism set and position it accurately within the prism casing and to so arrange the second prism set that, before the balsam between two faces of the two 45 contiguous prisms has hardened, to-wit, prisms I8 and I9, to rock the block through the adjusting screw to bring the incident and emergent beam faces of the prism sets into optical parallelism. As before, this may be done by observing 59 some image passed through the prism sets projected upon a screen, and irrespective of the presence of the objective lenses 34 and 35.

Small compression members, such as cork, indicated at I26, may be laid on the sides of the prism members adapted to face the cover 93. When the cover is secured to the casing, as shown in Figure 6, the prism sets are held tightly against movement within said casing.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 specifically, the projection head, in addition to housing the invention just described, also houses the film trap. The film trap includes spaced shoes I21, a gate I28, the usual tension springs I29, together with top and bottom tension spring shoes I39 and I3 I The strip film 4 has the perforations thereof engaged by the top sprocket wheel I32 and held in engagement with the teeth of said sprocket wheel through the medium of a guide roller I33. The film is held in position by guide spools designated generally as I34, after which a length of film is interposed between the gate and the shoes.

A further length of the strip film is engaged by the teeth of an intermittent feed sprocket I35. It is to be realized that this constitutes only a poration of the projection mechanism, the magazines not being included. The aperture plate 9 is positioned rearwardly of the film, as are likewise two other spaced apart light aperture'plates I36 and I31. The lamp house I38 faces these aperture plates. A suitable source of light is provided within this lamp house. The blind 'or shield I2 is provided with two wings I39 and I40 and a portion of said shield is passed through the aperture Id! of the gate. The wings in turn are secured by small angle brackets designated generally as I62, to the gate. These angle brackets, as well as the wings, are so positioned as to be above and below the marginal confines of the aperture MI. Any suitable medium may be employed for securing the angle brackets to the gate, such as by employing screws or the likev M3 (see Figure 1).

In the typelof projector shown, the gate may be entirely removed from the projector head, the head to this end having top and bottom bifurcated lugs Mid and the gate 'is provided with an offset extension adapted to be received between the bifurcations of said lugs. By pressing upwardly on the bottom of the gate, thegate is easily removed from the projection head. Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings are illustrative of certain mechanism of'a standard type of projector.

The invention also includes the provision of suitable filters forward of the objectives. These filters, of course, vary as to color but for convenience, it may be assumed that one of the filters is red-+orange and the other-blue- -green. There are two filters having different color components, as shown at Hi5 and M6. Each filter is suitably secured within a ring Ml. The ring for each filter component is telescopically received within the mounting jackets for the objectives;

For instance, the filter component at M5 is telescopically received within the jacket it while the filter component MB is received within the jacket i'i. Suitable locking screws M8 and its hold the filter rings within the respective jackets.

The usual shutter I5? is provided forward of the aperture E50 in the projection head.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows: 1

When it is desired to project pictures in color using a standard type projector, such as illustrated in part in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, it is necessary to remove the ordinary form of objective lens and place the blind or shield I? in position, followed by placing the tongue ttof the intermediate block 66 in position within the'dovetailed slot 65 of the block 6% The mounting plate M with its dove tailed tongue member it may then be locked within the dove-tailed slot 51 of the intermediate block. This slide block construction permits proper placement of thecolor device within the projection head. When correctly positioned, the shields I2 and I 5 will be in slightly overlapped relationship, normally, because of the condensing lens between the light source and the film, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. The. adjustment given the dove-tailed blocks through the medium of the lock screw 12 and the screw I5 permits the proper spacing between the film and the plane incident beam receiving-faces of the prism sets l6 and I]. It is apparent that there will always be a certain position at which best focusing results are obtained. The objectives may be properly focused through the medium of the focusing mounts and this is accom- There is an air gap between the objectives and the emergentbeam faces wit, the faces 29.

Assuming a source of light in the lamp house, this source of light passes through the apertures I31, I36, thence through the aperture of the plate 9. If a. film has its'image areas, to-wit, the areas 5 and 6, positioned within said aperture, light passed through said filmwill be divided by the light shield so thatthe image areas may be kept separated. Each image will be received upon the plane incident beam receiving face 2i of the of each prism set, tog prisms it for each prism set I5 and it. As the light pencils pass through each prism set, the light pencil increases in diameter; in other words, diverges to provide what may be termed a cone of rays. As previously explained, the relative size of the different prisms of each set progressively increases to the end that there is no side cutting of the divergent light cone. The image bearing light pencils are then passed through the objectives and thence through the filters M5 and M6.

It will be observed that both emergent beam faces 29 of the prism sets are disposed at substantially the same angularity and the same distance from the incident beam receiving faces M ,of said sets. The axis of each objective may be shifted relative to the image bearing axial rays passed through each prism set. This is accomplished by means of the screws 58 and 59. These screws, as before 30 mentioned, carry heads, and the heads are secured to lugs depending from the tongue members of the objective mounting jackets. These screws are received within the threaded openings in the members 56 and 57, to the end that when the head there is no shifting of the projected image. In

other words, the axis of the image to be projected, wt, and the projected image, [152, are in the same relative positions relative to the lens axis. However, if the axis of the lens is shifted relative to the axis of the light pencil from the image 059, the projected image will be shifted from the position. shown at I52 to that shown at I53. The principle here explained and illustrated is that used for causing two projected images to overlap upon the screen 36. It is evident that a small degree of shift of either objective relative to the projected image bearing light beam, considering the throw thereof from projection machine to screen, results in large movement of the projected picture on the screen. This is illustrated in Figure 5 by the enlarged arrows shown in dotted lines at I54 and I55. By shifting the objective 3%, the image I54 may be moved to the full line position at I56. In the same manner,

shifting of the objective 35 may move the image E55 to the full line position I56. In actual practice, a perfect overlap results by shifting, if necessary, the axis of each objective. The image areas indicated at I and 8 on the film are reversed as to position in passage through the prism sets, to the end that the images appear as shown at I56 on the projection screen. This has been previously detailed in describing the passage of the image gearing light pencils through the prism sets (see Figure 4). Both images are rotated 180 or to upright position when passed through the objectives in the well understand manner.

The focusing of the objectives asv well as the correct positioning of the prism sets relative to the film is simple in operation and has been previously described in detail.

When one image bearing light pencil is projected through a filter, say an orange--red, and onto a screen, the second image bearing light pencil is projected through a blue-green filter and caused to overlap the orange-red image. and substantially a correct color rendering will be obtained in the resultant projected picture. This color rendering will be substantially in accordance with the original photographed object field.

In the preliminary statement of the invention detailing loss of light, mention was made of the fact that the present invention was saving in light, and great loss of light was, not entailed through use of the invention. Roughly speaking, it is possible to calculate mathematically the actual loss of light in its passage through a prism set. This loss depends upon the areas of the various plane incident beam receiving and emergent faces, and upon such factors as air to glass losses. Each oblique reflecting face of the several prisms forming each prism set is full silvered and silver entails a certain loss of light. In an actual device as used in a standard projection machine, it can be shown mathematically that the loss of light in passing through one of the prism sets may be as high as 45%. This does not take into consideration the air to glass loss in passage of the light from the film to a prism set. This may amount, in the present instance, considering the glass to air of the emergent beam from the prism, to 6.8% or more. Hence, considering the beam as divided by the two image bearing light pencils, the transmitted light for each pencil is approximately 22.5%. ures are arrived at mathematically, as before stated, for an actual device. However, a measurement of light loss through a prism s et shows that the present device is saving in light. Using a Weston photrome foot-candle meter, model 614, No.. 20, and positioning the -said meter eleven feet from the projection shutter for all tests, the following results were obtained: Table #1 Black and white-shutter in motion-no prisms Rectifier Foot setting Ampere; candles Table #2 Black and white-shutter stopped-no prisms Rectifier Foot setting Ampms candles Prisms-with filtersshutter in motion Rectifier Foot setting Ampems candles Table #5 Prisms-no filtersr shutter in motion Rectifier Foot setting Amperes candles Table #6 Prisms-with filters-shutter stopped Rectifier Foot setting Amperes candles Table #7 Prisms-no shutter-with filters Rectifier Batting Amperes Foot candles s 25 e7 Blue-green 8 25 62 Orange-red W 8 25 128 Sum 01 both filters Prisms-no shutter-mo filters 8 25 130 Blue-Green 8 25 0range-red 8 25 265 Total These tables show that the prisms are more efiicient in actual practice than the mathematical calculations for determining the amount of light loss would indicate. It is believed that the efll- 70 ciency of the prisms resides in the fact that they are oi small size and correctly balanced and positioned in such a manner as to not side out the light cone passed therethrough. Furthermore, it is to be remembered that the light images 'is practically negligible.

Tables #1 and #5 shows that there is practically no light loss through the prisms. The light loss principally results when filters are interposed as shown by Table #6, and thislight loss increases when the shutter is in motion, as shown by Table #4.

In actual use, the resultant projected picture in colors has been found to be sharp in detail and comparable to a black and white picture. There is no apparent flicker and where the object field was originally photographed with care, the lights and shadows in the colored projected picture are pleasing as to details and quite faithfully recreate the object field in color.

Reference is made to Figures 1 and 2 wherein it will be observed that the prism sets are comparatively close to the film, and further that the spacing between the emergent beam faces of the prism sets and the objectives is not large. This feature of the invention is important when air to glass losses in illumination are considered. So far as the inventor is aware, prior investigators have been unsuccessful in placing prisms between the objective and the film due first to the large size of the prisms used, and the fact that a reconstruction of the projection machine Was necessary. By placing the prism sets comparatively close to the film, the image bearing light beam therethrough directly contacts with the incident beam receiving faces of the prism sets and is passed through the prism sets without the pencils of light diverging to any appreciable extent. Where there is considerable gap between the film and the prism sets, the prisms must be enlarged as to size. If the light pencils are allowed to diverge to any extent, the size of the prisms becomes such as to prevent their useunless the prisms are cut in such a way as to induce a stopping down effect in the light pencils. Ordinarily a reflector is placed behind the source of light and a condenser forward of the source of light for the purpose of concentrating the light. As arule, the film aperture is placed at or near the point where the converging raysof light from the condenser cross, to the end that the greatest amount of light may pass through the aperture. From this point, the rays diverge toward the projection objective. Hence, it is essential and likewise a.- feature of the present invention, that the prism sets be placed quite A comparison between close to the film gate and its aperture, and likewise that the prism sets be in close proximity to the projection objectives in order that the projected image be sharply defined upon the screen and the illumination not materially reduced.

I claim:

1. An optical device for a multi-color picture projector that comprises a frame, a plurality of prismsets mounted in the frame, each set comprising a series of prisms for turning a light beam through approximately means on which one of the sets is mounted, said means being pivoted to the frame at right angles to the general axis of the prism set, means to adjust the mounting means on the pivot and objectives in the light beams for projecting the transmitted beams in registry.

2. The device of claim 1 in connection with ,a

film gate, means to support the device before the film gate, and a septum extending from the middle of the film gate to the plane of the incident faces of the prism sets.

- 3. An optical device for a multi-color picture projector that comprises a frame, a plurality of prism sets mounted in the frame, each-set comprising a series of prismsfor turning a light beam through approximately 90, means on which one of the sets is mounted, said means being pivoted to the frame at right angles to the general axis of the prism set, means to adjust the mounting means on the pivot, objectives in the light beam for projecting the transmitted beams in registry, means for. mounting one of said objectives for transverse movement with respect to the frame and means for mounting the other objective also for transverse movement with respect to the frame, but at right angles to the direction of movement of the first objective.

4. An optical device for a multi-color picture projector that comprises a frame, a film gate, means to support the frame closely adjacent the film gate, a septum extending from the middle of the film gate in the direction of the light beam, a plurality of prism sets mounted in the frame at the end of the septum, each set comprising a series of prisms of increasing size for turning a light beam through approximately 90, objectives for projecting the transmitted beams in registry, means for mounting one of F said objectives for transverse movement with respect to the frame and means for mounting the other objective also for transverse movement OTTO C. GILMORE. I 

